The Sunday News
Amanda Ncube, Sunday News Reporter
THE Government has, through the Road Motor Transport Department, ordered all long distance bus operators to obtain route authorities with registration numbers for every vehicle, a move that has not gone down well with the industry.
Traditionally, bus operators used to obtain one route authority and colour copy it for use for their whole fleet of vehicles.
The new order has, however, proved unpopular among long distance operators who claim that would affect both business and the passengers.
According to a letter issued by Road Motor Transport and signed by commissioner Mrs Joy Mathema, all long distance route permits should now be endorsed with a registration number of the bus that will ply the route.
“I have noted with great concern that the Government is being prejudiced of revenue by some unscrupulous operators who obtain one route authority and colour copy it for use on their whole fleet of vehicles they own,” reads the letter in possession of Sunday News.
“According to the Road Motor Transportation Act, each passenger carrying vehicles should have its own route authority.”
However, bus operators have raised concern about the issue saying that will not only affect them but also passengers.
Bulawayo Bus Operators Association chairman Mr Patrick Dube said operators were against the directive.
“This is 100 percent wrong, instead of the Government punishing the corrupt people they are punishing everyone including the passengers who have not done anything. Some of us are honest people but we are suffering for others ,” said Mr Dube.
Mr Dube added: “It means that if my bus is going to Beitbridge and it breaks down along the way I should not dispatch another bus to rescue the passengers as only that bus endorsed on the permit is allowed on that route.”
He said although this was a way of trying to stop illegal abuse of route authorities it will in fact, enhance corruption.
Mr Lethu Phephetha, another bus operator, said operators were now in a very difficult situation especially those who own a fleet.
“This is an advantage to a person who owns one bus, not to us who have a fleet. When some buses break down, it takes time to repair them and what it means is that we cannot service that route. What it means effectively is that passengers will suffer,” he said.
Another operator, Mr Andrew Ndlovu said the directive will affect passengers more than bus operators.
“For us to operate effectively it means that one vehicle should have more than two route authorities which is expensive for us,” he said.
Nonetheless, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Dr Joram Gumbo, defended the directive and said operators were consulted and agreed to the terms.
“The order was done after consultations with the long route associations and they agreed to the terms. It is probably that particular individual that is not happy with the directive. The move was meant to curb the same thing that they are complaining about because they would use one route authority for their fleet,” he said.
“The companies would get one route authority and one fitness clearance using one bus for their whole fleet. So it was meant to curb corruption. If there is a breakdown they can send other buses with their own credentials.”
